The former Mayor of Monrovia and Secretary General of the main opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), Jefferson Tamba Koijee, has humbly requested the attention of the government of the United States of America in the investigation of the US$19.2 million drugs that was busted at the Roberts International Airport (RIA) in June.
In a letter to the Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the United States of America near Monrovia, Joseph Zadrozny, Koijee said, “I write to respectfully request the attention of the Embassy of the United States regarding the unresolved US$19 million cocaine trafficking scandal in Liberia a matter that continues to raise profound concerns about the rule of law, institutional independence, corruption, and Liberia’s commitment to combating transnational organized crime. Viewed through the lens of national security and counter-narcotics enforcement, this case represents far more than an isolated criminal incident; it reflects a broader pattern in which organized criminal networks exploit institutional weaknesses to entrench themselves within the machinery of the state.”
According to Koijee, the magnitude of this case extends beyond a single criminal investigation, and has become a test of Liberia’s willingness and capacity to investigate powerful actors without political interference; unfortunately, the progress of the investigation remains uncertain and appears to be marked by political deception.
“Given the seriousness of this case and its regional and international implications, I respectfully call for the support of the United States and other international partners in advancing an independent international investigation, or an internationally supported investigative response. Such a process would help restore public confidence, strengthen accountability, and ensure that no individual is beyond the reach of the law,” Koijee’s letter observed.
He also expressed his discomfort with the manner in which the Liberia National Police (LNP) is handling the reported US$19 million cocaine scandal. In his view, the investigation has lacked the transparency and independence that a case of this magnitude demands. “I believe the repeated public briefings by the Inspector General of Police have failed to address the central questions surrounding the origin and ownership of the reported shipment of cocaine into Liberia. Instead of bringing greater clarity, the Police Inspector General has, in my opinion, left significant questions unanswered and weakened public confidence in the integrity of the investigation,” he added.
“I am equally disturbed by what I believe to be the erosion of the operational independence of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA). It is my view that the Inspector General of the Liberia National Police, Mr. Gregory O. W. Coleman, has exercised undue influence over the appointment and functioning of the Agency’s current leadership. I believe this influence risks undermining the institutional autonomy of the LDEA, an agency established to investigate drug trafficking independently and without interference,” he claimed.
He said given the importance of the agency’s mandate, it is imperative that an independent investigation determine the extent of the influence that has affected its operations, including the handling of the reported US$19 million cocaine trafficking case.
Koijee accused Col. Gregory Coleman of being in the United Kingdom on June 18 and 19, 2026, reportedly the intended destination of the cocaine, while the investigation into the US$19.2 million drug case was actively on-going. “One can reasonably infer that Gregory Coleman was in the United Kingdom awaiting the arrival of the cocaine consignment,” he alleged.
“Mr. Ambassador, I do not present these allegations to portray the government in an unfavorable light. Rather, I believe they are sufficiently serious to warrant an independent and impartial investigation capable of confirming these claims through credible evidence,” Koijee’s letter further noted.
